Atheist Semantics

[Sage]

I'm just going to pose a simple question here that we've already seen tackled in a lot of other debates off-handedly. Do you consider atheism to be a religion, and, at the end of the day, does it really make a difference whether it is or not?

[nick]

I dont consider it to be a religion. I mean a religion is a belief in something, not a belief in nothing. But no, what difference does it make?

[Demonic Angel]

I don't consider atheism a religion because I consider a religion a system of beliefs, ceremonies, and worship that focusing on some deity or higher being(s)
I would say it is a belief system, but not a religion.

And I don't really think it makes that much of a different, but atheism is not a religion. You would never refer to someone who believes strongly in atheistic views 'religious'.

[Modus Operandi]

No.
Atheism dosen't have one overriding doctrine, so it really can't be a religon.

*imagines an Atheist bible and lols*

[Mzor203]

I don't consider atheism a religion because I consider a religion a system of beliefs, ceremonies, and worship that focusing on some deity or higher being(s)
I would say it is a belief system, but not a religion.

And I don't really think it makes that much of a different, but atheism is not a religion. You would never refer to someone who believes strongly in atheistic views 'religious'.

Would you call Buddhism a religion?

I prefer not to really classify any religion of any sort as 'religion', but simply as one individual's beliefs. No matter what religion you belong to, some of your views are going to differ from others' who supposedly share your belief.

Everyone has a belief of some sort on this matter, as well as Athiests. They believe something. It's silly to really try to classify this stuff.

[Camazotz]

No, atheism is not a religion. A religion requires faith in a deity or deities and worship of said deity or deities. However, it doesn't make a difference whether or not it's considered a religion.

[Delusion15]

I don't consider atheism a religion because I consider a religion a system of beliefs, ceremonies, and worship that focusing on some deity or higher being(s)
I would say it is a belief system, but not a religion.

And I don't really think it makes that much of a different, but atheism is not a religion. You would never refer to someone who believes strongly in atheistic views 'religious'.
spot on i think

[theOperaGhost]

No, atheism is not a religion. A religion requires faith in a deity or deities and worship of said deity or deities. However, it doesn't make a difference whether or not it's considered a religion.

Do you consider something like Confucianism or Taoism a religion? How about Hinduism? Do you call them religions or belief systems? I consider them atheistic religions or atheistic belief systems. Really, there is no difference between the words religion and belief system, at least in my opinion. I consider a religion to be a belief system, which is what atheism is.

Does it matter? Absolutely not. I don't have any idea why atheists and theists make such a huge deal about it being a religion or not.

[Aves]

Atheism isn't a religion in my mind. But that's just because it doesn't fit the definition of "Religion" in my mind.

[INFERNO]

I do believe atheism would be considered a religion because it has its own set of systematic beliefs, can lead to explanations of various things, has a group of people who follow and adhere to its beliefs and so forth. The only thing it lacks is not believing in some divine being. There are two reasons why I classify it as a religion despite it lacking that criterion. First, part of its beliefs is that there is no divine being so it would be contradictory or redundant to say that it's not a religion because it doesn't promote belief in some divine being. It's adhering to what it promotes and the definition of religion that seems to be used by most of the previous posters for some reason seems to require some belief in a divine being. The problem is, the criterion for having a set of beliefs allows for those beliefs to not contain the belief of a divine being. Second, by saying it is a religion it resolves issues regarding classifying other beliefs as a religion or not because some beliefs have theistic and atheistic qualities in it and others are simply a philosophical guideline.

As for whether or not it makes a difference if it's a religion, I don't think it does, however, the same question can be asked for other beliefs: does it make a difference if various theistic and other beliefs are classified as a religion? To me it doesn't because no matter what you call it, religion or non-religion, the beliefs are still going to remain as they are, they won't spontaneously change.

[that kid]

I think it's simply a belief in not believing

[mrmcdonaldduck]

i was about to make a thread like this.

but i do think that it is, because they beleive in nothing. that means that they beleive in the concept of nothingness.

[Bougainvillea]

It has its own set of systematic beliefs

Did you by any chance read this?

[ShatteredWings]

Do you consider something like Confucianism or Taoism a religion? How about Hinduism? Do you call them religions or belief systems?
Hinduism is a polytheistic religion. I'm not in the mood to look up how many individual gods there are, but I know there's more than 3 (and off the top of my head i can think of NAMES for two of them)
Confucianism and Taoism are the same thing, and it's not a religion. It's a philosophy. As is Buddhism.


So no, i don't consiter being an atheist a religion. It's the exact opposite.

[theOperaGhost]

Hinduism is a polytheistic religion. I'm not in the mood to look up how many individual gods there are, but I know there's more than 3 (and off the top of my head i can think of NAMES for two of them)
Confucianism and Taoism are the same thing, and it's not a religion. It's a philosophy. As is Buddhism.


So no, i don't consiter being an atheist a religion. It's the exact opposite.

There are several divisions of Hinduism. The Samkhya and Mimamsa schools of Hinduism have an atheistic viewpoint. Other schools have monotheistic, polytheistic, pantheistic, panentheistic, and monistic viewpoints. Hinduism is considered henotheistic.

Confucianism and Taoism, although closely related are not the same thing. After searching them online, they are considered to be either philosophical or religious traditions.

After actually looking up the definition of the word "religion" I do find atheism to be a religion. Why? Atheists have a certain set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe. Now, definition 1 goes on to say ESPECIALLY, USUALLY and OFTEN. These words make a big difference in how people perceive the definition. They all imply that religions usually involve a superhuman agency or agencies (gods) but not always.

Atheists generally do have a fundamental set of beliefs or practices agreed upon by a number of people. Does every atheist believe the same thing? No. Does every Christian believe the same thing? No. Don't give me the "atheists don't gather to agree upon anything" bullshit. As a member of any society, you agree upon a fundamental set of practices.

Skipping to number 6. Most atheists devotedly believe whatever scientific findings there are...All argue that science is fact, not belief, and I agree, however there is no scientific theory that can be proven fact. Each and every scientific theory is only thought or believed to be fact, but it is literally impossible to prove a theory to be a law. Therefore, just thinking science completely proves Christianity wrong is still just a belief. It happens to be a belief supported by more evidence than Christianity, but it is a belief nonetheless.


re⋅li⋅gion
  /rɪˈlɪdʒən/ [ri-lij-uhn]
–noun
1. a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
2. a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.
3. the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions.
4. the life or state of a monk, nun, etc.: to enter religion.
5. the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.
6. something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience: to make a religion of fighting prejudice.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/religion

[ShatteredWings]

Skipping to number 6. Most atheists devotedly believe whatever scientific findings there are...All argue that science is fact, not belief, and I agree, however there is no scientific theory that can be proven fact. Each and every scientific theory is only thought or believed to be fact, but it is literally impossible to prove a theory to be a law. Therefore, just thinking science completely proves Christianity wrong is still just a belief. It happens to be a belief supported by more evidence than Christianity, but it is a belief nonetheless.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/religion

Are you saying that science is a religion?

[theOperaGhost]

Are you saying that science is a religion?

Nope. Science is not a religion. The belief that science holds the answer to the purpose of the universe is a religious philosophy though. This is how I find atheism to be a religion.

[Hyper]

Nope. Science is not a religion. The belief that science holds the answer to the purpose of the universe is a religious philosophy though. This is how I find atheism to be a religion.

Wow lol I agree with Jared!

Also rep to INFERNO

[INFERNO]

but i do think that it is, because they beleive in nothing. that means that they beleive in the concept of nothingness.

No, that's not what the belief is about. The belief is about disbelief in higher beings and generally resorting to something such as science for explanations.

For a disbelief in nothingness I'd have to say that would probably be nihilism, which is NOT the same as atheism. Two very different concepts.

[Golddron]

No, I don't consider atheism a religion. More of a concept involving disbelief of spiritual deities.

[Triceratops]

A religion? No way.
I'd consider it to be more of a disbelief than anything else.

[Whisper]

I'm just going to pose a simple question here that we've already seen tackled in a lot of other debates off-handedly. Do you consider atheism to be a religion, and, at the end of the day, does it really make a difference whether it is or not?

No i don't and yes it does
Religion implies the need for faith
For an atheist it's all about science
and ligitimate science (not that pseudo-science crap) leaves nothing to faith

and im talking peer reviewed, recently published scientific journals
not something you'd read in Scientific America er some shit